Soot-cleaner for boilers.



F. W. LINAKER.

800T CLEANER FOR BOILERS APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, l9I5.

oooooooooooooo 00000000000 1// 000000000 F. W LINAKER.

800T CLEANER FOR BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1915.

w mm Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wwmmwm mmuumwm u QM k m QM jected to a point adjacent the tubes, the same I %T% ATENT FFJIC.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER, OF DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE VULCAN SOOT CLEANER 00., F PITTSBUBG, PA., 015 DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

SCOT-CLEANER ron BOILERS.

Application filed May 20, 1915.

To all whom it M ay concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. LIN- AKER, a subject of the King of England, residing at Dubois, in the county of Clearfleld and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soot-Cleaners for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in soot cleaners for boilers,

and is especially adapted for boilers including vertical water tubes of the VVickes type.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a soot cleaner for the water tubes of boilers wherein the distributing pipe for the cleaning fluid is arranged within an inclosing housing and is adapted to be projected beyond said housing and into the space between chosen tubes, and includes manually-operable means whereby the distributing pipe is projected. and returned to inoperative position within the housing and remote from the boiler tubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device for boiler tubes in which the cleaning member is permanently secured in the side wall or casing of the boiler and has communicating therewith a permanent piping system adapted to supply the same with a cleaning fluid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning-device for boiler tubesthat is adapted to remove soot and incrustations from the tubes and is accomplished by a device that is extremely simple in construction and operation, and inexpensive to manufacture, the same including a cleaning member or distributing pipe thatis pro:

being adapted to distribute the cleaning fluid and including mechanical means for projecting and returning the distributing pipe to normally retracted or inoperative position.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts to behereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

The accompanying drawings show the preferred embodiments of the present invention and reference will be had thereto by like characters designating corresponding Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 29,335.

parts throughout the several views where- 1n Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a vertical water tube boiler of the VVickes type with the present invention attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken mid-way of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the cleaning members. Fig. 4 is an end elevational view, partly in section, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3,. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an end view of a collar removed from the operating rod. Fig. 7 is an end view of the yoke member that is adapted to be secured to the distributing pipe and is shown detached therefrom. Fig. 8 is a detached end View of another collar that is adapted to be secured to the distributing pipe. Fig. 9 is a detached end View of the collar that is positioned on the distributing pipe and is connected to the chain which returns the distributing pipe to inoperative position, and, Fig. 10 is a modification of a cleaning member with a different .form of operating rod.

In boilers of the VVickes type which include vertical water tubes and a centrallypositioned baflie plate, and in fact, in boilers where the heat and products of combustion pass over the water tubes, there is a deposit of soot and other incrustations on the tubes which in a short time, if not removed therefrom. will render the boiler tubes practically worthles as the soot and incrustations will prevent the tubes from being properly heat- ]Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

ed and permit of the escape of the heat from the fire-box without having accomplished any material result.

The present invention aims to provide a cleaner for these water tubes and in which the cleaning members are permanently secured in the outer wall or casing of the boiler and each cleaning member including a distributing pipe for the cleaning fluid, the said distributing pipe adapted to be moved to operative position to a space between the boiler tubes, and at this point to be revolved to cause the cleaning fluid to describe a circular path, thereby to project the cleaning fluid against all sides of the tubes so that the same may be freed from soot and incrustations. When the operator has thoroughly cleaned the tubes of the boiler, the'supply of cleaning fluid may be shut off and manually-operable means connected to the distributing pipe may be put into operation to retract the distributing pipe into the cleaning member and to a point remote from the tubes so that the heat within the boiler will have no detrimental effect thereon;

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown the usual form of water tube boiler of the Wickes type including the outer wall or casing 12 and the ofl-set firebox 13 which communicates with the boiler, and arranged within the casing 12 are a plurality of vertical water tubes 14. These tubes are connected at their lower ends in the usual manner to a water drum and at their upper ends to a steam dome 15. In order to provide for a thorough distribution of the heat and products of combustion from the fire-box 13, there is provided a centrally-disposed bafiie wall 16 spacing the water tubes 14 and terminating at its upper end below the steam dome 15, so that the heat and products of combustion passing from the fire-box 13 will come in contact with the tubes on the nearest side of the battle wall, and then pass between the space at the upper end thereof and contact thetubes on the other side of the said baflie-wall. These details of construction are embodied in the usual type of Wickes boiler, and form no part ofthe present invention.

In use as above described, soot and other incrustations collect on the water tubes 14, and if not removed therefrom, will cause the water tubes to be rendered practically worthless for the purpose intended, this coating preventing a thorough absorption of the heat and products of combustion by the tubes. The cleaning members that are adapted to remove these pernicious coatings from the tubes are designated in general as 17, two of each being arranged at opposite sides of the boiler and preferably in vertical alinement.

I do not wish to confine myself to the form of cleaning fluid used, as steam or gaseous fluid may be utilized and still accomplish the same result, and for purposes of clearness, the same will be hereinafter referred to as a cleaning fluid.

A supply piping system for the cleaning fluid is shown in Fig. 1 and includes a valvecontrolled main supply 18 adapted to feed the cleaning fluid to the main branch 19 and sub-branches 20, the cleaning fluid then passing into the pipes 21 and to be con trolled by the valves 22 before entering the cleaning members 17. In case steam is to be used as the cleaning fluid, I have provided a pair of controlling valves 23 and a drip cup 24 whereby the steam may be drawn off until the same reaches the desired condition, at which time the said valves may be operated to permit the steam to flow into the main branch 19 and thereafter into the cleaning members. One of these cleaning members is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and a complete description of one will be suflicient for a complete understanding of the invention. Each cleaning member includes a pair of castings 25 and 26 carrying abutting flanges and adapted to be secured together by the fastening bolts 27. The casting 25 is provided with a threaded opening 28 that is adapted to receive the end of the fluid pipe 21. A hood section 29 is secured to the upper wall of the casting 25 and carries an extension 30 projecting rearwardly of the casting for purposes to be later described.

The casting 26 is of elongated form and is divided substantially into upper and lower compartments 31 and 32 respectively, the lower compartment being substantially in the form of a piston cylinder or barrel and adapted to slidably receive the cleaning fluid distributing pipe and its appurtenances, while the upper compartment 31 is adapted to inclose the manually-operable means for projecting and retracting the distributing pipe into the casting 26, or inoperative position. As shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the cleaning members 17 are embedded in the side wall or casing 12 of the boiler and have a contracted opening 33 in such manner to provide a clearance and guide for the distributing pipe.

The distributing pipe is designated 34 and is provided at its outer end with a removable'closure plug 35, there being suitably spaced radial openings 36 in the pipe so that the cleaning fluid passing into the same may escape therefrom through the said openings. At the limit of its inward movement, the outer end of the distributing pipe 34 is supported in the opening 33 of the casting 26 while the inner end of the distributing pipe is supported in the yoke member 37, and is held in fixed relation thereto by the set screw 38. The yoke 37 is a hollow member and has an end wall opposite the entrance end of the distributing pipe, this end wall being designated 39 and having a squared opening 40 therein, legs 37 connecting the yoke 37 tothe end .39. A collar 41 is secured to the distributing pipe 34 in spaced relation to the yoke 37 by a set screw 42, while the space between the yoke and collar is adapted to receive the loose collar 43 that is connected to the manually-operable means by which the distributing pipe 34 is moved to inoperative and operative positions.

An operating rod extends through the outer end wall of the hollow casting 25 and when the end wall loose collars 41 and 43, that portion of the operating rod projecting from the outer end wall of the casting and also within said casting being circular in cross-section as at 44, while the remaining portion oftheoperating rod that projects within the collars and distributing pipe is rectangular in cross-section as at 45. it will be noted that the distributing pipe 34 is fixed to the yoke 37 and that the squared portion 45 of the operating rod passing through the squared opening 40 in the said yoke will permit the yoke and distributing pipe to properly slide on said rod and be revolved thereby.

A collar 46 is secured to the cylindrical portion 44 of the operating rod exteriorly of the casting 25 and coiiperates with the hood extension 30 to provide an indicating device that will determine, according to the posi tion of the said collar, when the distributing pipe is in either its operative or inoperative position. When the distributing pipe 34 is projected from the barrel portion 32 of the casting 26, the yoke 37 which carries the said distributing pipe will slide over the squared portion 45 of the operating rod to a point 39 of the yoke member engages the enlarged cylindrical head 47 formed on the extreme end of the operating rod, and further movement of the yoke and distributing pipe will axially, thereby to bring the collar 46 beneath the hood extension 30 to indicate that the openings 36 in the distributin pipe 34 I I b o are correctly positionedrelatlve to the boiler tubes and ready to be revolved. The handle 48 carried by the outer end of the rod 44 is revolved and. by the connection between the squared portion of the rod and the yoke, as before described, such rotary motion is imparted to the distributing pipe. When the distributing pipe 34 is returned to inoperative position within the casting 26, the yoke and pipe slide over the squared portion of the rod 45 until the yoke comes in contact with. the collar 49 fixed on the rod 44, and by further retracting movement, the said rod is moved longitudinally to remove the collar 46 from beneath the hood extension 30, which will indicate that the distributing pipe has assumed its normal inoperative position within the casting.

The mechanism for projecting and retracting the distributing pipe is located within the upper compartment 31 and includes a pair of spaced transversely-positioned stub shafts 50 and 51, each shaft'carrying a sprocket wheel 52 over which a sprocket chain 53 is adapted to travel. The shaft 51 is rectangular in cross-section and constitutes the driving shaft for the sprocket chain, this shaft 51 being held in position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by the end washers 54 and cotterpins 55. A' crank handle 56 is earned by the shaft 51 and when rotated,

' p1pe 34 is slidably cause the rod to move causes the sprocket chain 53 to travel in the desired direction.

The sprocket chain 53 is connected to the loose collar 43, the said collar 43 carrying a lateral projection 57 and a central upwardly projecting pin 58, one of the horizontal links of the chain adapted to be positioned on the upper end of the projection 57 with the pin 58 projecting through the same, while a cap plate 59 engages the upper side of the chain link and holds the same locked to the projection 57 by the pin 60. It will therefore be seen that when the power shaft 51 is operated to cause the chain, 53 to travel in the desired direction, the loose collar 43 on the distributing pipe 34 between the fixed yoke 37 and fixed collar 41 will cause the yoke and distributing pipe to move into operative and inoperative positions.

A' modification of the device is shown in V Fig. 10 and includes end castings 61 and 62 connected by the cylinder 63. A distributing pipe 64 of construction similar to the mounted within the castings 61 and 62, the same being provided with the usual, perforations 65. A threaded opening 66 is provided in the casting 61 into which the pipe 21 may be secured. The outer end of the casting 61 is provided with a removable threaded plug 67 having a central opening therein for the passage oftheoperating rod 68 and which cap includes the usual packing gland 69. A yoke member 70 is connected to that end of the distributing pipe 64 adjacent the casting 61 and the operating rod 68 is connected to said yoke. As shown. the operating rod 68 is formed of foldable sections pivotally articulated as at 71 while the outer section 68 of the operating rod may be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 10 when the devlce is in inoperative position, with the distributing pipe 64 within the cylinder 63 so that the projecting outer end section 68 of the operating rod will be lowered to a pos1- tion adjacent the boiler and be out of the way of persons passing through the boiler room. A collar 72 is carried by the rod section 68 while the outer end thereof; carries the operating handle 73. When it is desired to project the distributing pipe 64 into the space between the boiler tubes, the rods 68 and 68' are moved on their pivotal connections 71 and into alinement, after which the same may be moved through the packing gland 69 and cap 67 until the collar 72 engages the said packing gland, at which time the distributing pipe will be correctly positioned between the boiler tubes. By revolving the handle 73, rotary motion is imparted to the distributing pipe 64 and the fluid entering the casting 61 passes through the Said distributing pipe and is projected therefrom through the openings 65.

From the above detailed description at side of the ing an inclosinghousing, a

the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is believed that the operation thereof will be readily apparent and while I' have shown and described the preferred construction, I do not wish to confine .myself thereto as various forms, modifications and arrangement of the parts as shown may be had without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat I claim as new is l. A soot cleaner for boiler tubes includdistributing pipe slidably mounted therein, unitary manuallyoperable means within said housing for moving said distributing pipe into and out of the same, an operating rod extending into said housing and said distributing pipe, and means carried by said rod and cooperating with said housing to determine when said distributing pipe is in either projected or retracted position.

2. A soot cle'aner ing an inclosing housing, a yoke and a distributing pipe carried thereby slidablymounted within said housing, a collar fixed to said distributing pipe inspaced relation to said yoke, a loose collar mounted on said distributing pipe between the yoke and fixed collar, and means within said housing adapted to engage said loose collar to move the same in either direction within said housing to cause the distributing pipe to be projected from said housing and also returned thereinto.

3. A soot cleaner for Water tube boilers including an inclosing housing, a yoke member and distributing pipe carried thereby arranged within said housing, a fixed collar on said distributing pipe in spaced relation to said yoke, a loose collar on said distribut ing pipe between the" yoke and fixed collar and having alateral projection, a pair of sprocket Wheels journaled in said housing above said distributing pipe, a sprocket chain passing over said Wheels, the lateral extension of said loose collar adapted to be connected to said sprocket chain, and means for causing said sprocket-chain to travel in opposite directions whereby reciprocable movement is imparted to said distributing pipe.

4. including an inclosing A soot cleanenfor water tube boilers housing, a yoke and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged within said housing, an endless sprocket chain arranged within said housing,

and means connecting said sprocket chain to said distributing pipe whereby movement of the chain in opposite directions is positively imparted to said pipe.

. 5. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a housing, a cleaning fluid distributing pipe within said housing, manually-operable means for projecting said disfrom said housing means for for boiler tubes includ partments, a reciprocable cleaning fluid distributing pipe mounted within the lower compartment, manually-operable means within the upper compartment, and connecting means between the manually-operable means and the distributing pipe, for positively moving the distributing pipe in opposite directions.

7. A soot cleaner for Water tube boilers comprising housings permanently secured in a boiler casing, each housing having a cleaning fluiddistributing pipe positioned therein, an operating rod extending into said housing and said distributing pipe, manually-operable means for causing said distributing pipe to be projected into the space between theboiler tubes, and means carried by the operating rod adapted to be shifted when the distributingpipe nears its extreme movement in opposite directions to indicate when the distributing pipe is in operative or inoperative position.

8. A soot cleaner comprising a housing, distributing pipe carried thereby slidably mounted in said housing, an operating rod extending into said yoke and pipe, manually operable means for projecting and retracting said pipe, and cooperative means carried by the rod and pipe for limiting the outward movement of the pipe.

9. A soot cleaner for Water tube boilers comprising a housing divided into upper and lower communicating longitudinal compartments, a cleaning fluid distributing pipe slidably mounted in one of said compartments, mechanism arranged in the other compartment for positively projecting and retracting the pipe, and independently operating means for rotating the distributing mn 10. A soot cleaner for Water tube boilers comprising a housing, a yoke and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged within said housing, cling s'aid distributing pipe and limited in axial movement relative thereto, a shaft for Water tube boilers a yoke member and ijournaled transversely of the housing at each a collar loosely encir-' comprising a housing, a yoke and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged within said housing, a collar loosely encircling said distributing pipe and limited in axial movement relative thereto, a shaft journaled transversely of the housing at each end thereof, sprocket Wheels upon said shafts, a connecting sprocket chain passing over said wheels and connected to ,Said collar, means positioned eXteriorly of said housing for revolving one of said shafts to cause the distributing pipe to be projected or retracted into operative and inoperative positions, and independently operating means for revolving the distributing pipe.

12. A soot cleaner for water tube boilers comprising a housing, a yoke and distributing pipe carried thereby slidably arranged within said housing, a collar loosely encircling said distributing pipe and limited in axial movement relative thereto, a shaft journaled transversely of the housing at each end thereof, sprocket wheels upon said shafts, a connecting sprocket chain passing -over said Wheels and connected to said collar, means positioned exteriorly of said housing for revolving one of said shafts to cause the distributing pipe to be projected or ret'racted into operative and inoperative positions, an operating rod slidably' associated with said distributing pipe for revolving the same, and cooperative means carried by said rod and pipe for limiting the outward movement of said pipe. v

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' FREDERICK V. LINAKER. -Witnesses:

RUTH L. FYE, DEE SOBER. 

